H. M. Davies

Additional Information

AREAS OF INTEREST

Plant metabolism and physiology. Plant and agricultural biotechnology. Develpment of new crops with enhanced characteristics and/or making new products.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

• Professor, Plant & Soils Science Dept, University of KY, 2010-present
• Professor, Plant & Soils Science Dept, and Director of KTRDC at University of KY, 1996-2010
• Postdoctoral research, DoE Plant Research Lab., Michigan State University, 1977-79
• Postdoctoral research, University of Calif., Davis, 1979-80
• Research/management positions with Calgene Inc. (Davis, CA) 1980-1995

EDUCATION

• Ph.D London University (England) 1977
• MA (Biochemistry), Oxford University (England), 1974

TEACHING

PLS 103 PLANTS, SOILS, AND PEOPLE: A GLOBAL PERSPECTIVE. (3)
Only a few things are essential to life, and food is one of them. What people eat is about what they need to be healthy, what they want to eat (personal preference and culture), and what they have available or can afford to eat. Agriculture plays a vital role in human food security. Many experts feel the world is facing a food supply crisis. Knowledge and application of the principles of plant and soil sciences will have a dramatic effect on human food security, now and into the future, both locally and globally. However, these issues will also be impacted by future human population growth,  urbanization, consumer preferences, human decisions regarding civic duties, and climate change. Students successfully completing this course will leave with an understanding of the need to sustainably expand the world’s food supply, the basic principles of plant and soil science and their application to this problem, and their own potential role in determining our ability to meet this challenge. Students may not receive credit for both this course and PLS 104.